Obama to raise cash with NBA legend Jordan

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

Michael Jordan. AP photo

Basketball legend Michael Jordan and other basketball stars have signed up for an “Obama Classic” this month, as the U.S. president seeks to trim his fundraising deficit to Republican Mitt Romney.

As part of the event, the Obama campaign is calling on supporters to enter a drawing for the chance to shoot hoops with basketball greats Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, Sheryl Swoopes, Kyrie Irving, and Alonzo Mourning. For a $3 contribution, the lucky winner of the contest will also get the chance to be drawn out of the hat to sit down for dinner with Jordan and the basketball-mad President Obama at the event in New York.

 “Hit the court with Patrick Ewing and Melo? Trade stories with the President? This is the kind of stuff your kids will tell their kids, and no one will believe it until you show them a photo,” said an Obama campaign email. “If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to chip in and support the President, it’s time to get off the bench,” Obama campaign deputy national field director Marlon Marshall wrote. 

The president’s campaign team has used the raffle technique before, to raise funds for dinners with the president and first lady, and for the chance to attend a fundraising event with Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.